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MEET THE FRIARS

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MEET THE FRIARS

FR. THOMAS MORE BARBA

FR. THOMAS MORE BARBA

FR. THOMAS MORE BARBA

The oldest of three sons, he first began discerning a call to the priesthood when he was 12 years old. He was drawn to be a priest by God’s grace working through the religious, prayerful life instilled in him by his parents and his family’s weekly participation at Mass at his parish, St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso, Texas. While an undergraduate student at the University of Dallas, he worked in campus ministry, where he was introduced to the Dominican Order. Taking his religious name in honor of Sir Thomas More, he admires More’s dedication to the preservation of authentic religious freedom, his love of his family and devotion to the Church, his tenacious prayer life, and his belief in a liberal arts education. In his free time, Fr. Thomas More enjoys reading, exercising, and baking. Ordained in June 2017, his first assignment is at his alma mater as the chaplain of UD's Campus Ministry.

972-438-1626 ex.202

tbarba@udallas.edu

FR. IAN BORDENAVE

FR. IAN BORDENAVE

FR. IAN BORDENAVE

Ian Bordenave, OP, is an itinerant preacher. He preaches retreats, missions, & workshops on preaching. He is working on a Doctor of Ministry of Preaching through Aquinas Institute of Theology in Saint Louis. He served as a campus minister at the University of Dallas from 2015 to 2017, the pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Houston from 2009 to 2015, the pastor of St. Another of Padua Parish in New Orleans from 2002 to 2009, and a parochial vicar at St.Dominic Parish in New Orleans from 2000 to 2002. He has been professed member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) since 1994 & a priest since 2000. Before going the Order, he served in the U.S. Army as a Patriot Missile Officer from 1988 to 1992. He is from Valparaiso, Florida, & enjoys reading & running.

FR. DON DVORAK

FR. DON DVORAK

FR. DON DVORAK

Donald Dvorak, OP was born in Chicago and attended Loras College in Dubuque, IA. He joined the Chicago Dominican Province and after ordination received an M. Ed. In counseling from Loyola University in Chicago. He has been a high school religion teacher and counselor. When the Southern Dominican province was formed he was the assistant to the new provincial and then pastor at our parishes in New Orleans and Memphis. Father Don was prior of St. Albert Priory and now serves as rector/chaplain at the University of Dallas.

FR. BERT EBBEN

FR. BERT EBBEN

FR. BERT EBBEN

Bert Ebben, OP is the founding provincial of the Southern Dominican Province. Bert has ministered in several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya for 45 years of his 60 years as a Dominican Friar. For six months of each year he continues to work with three community development projects in Kenya. When back home Bert serves as the priory’s ground-keeper and, upon request, assists in various ministries in the diocese.

FR. ANDY KOLZOW

FR. ANDY KOLZOW

FR. ANDY KOLZOW

Andrew (Kenneth) Kolzow, OP was raised in Illinois. He graduated from De Paul University and then entered the Dominican novitiate of the Chicago province. He did graduate work at the University of Minnesota. He has been a high school administrator and teacher, pastor and campus minister. He has had an active preaching ministry in the Hispanic community, directed a permanent diaconate program and been director of vocations for our Southern Dominican province. Fr Andy is past prior of St. Albert Priory, served on the staff of our neighboring Holy Trinity Seminary and is now our priory’s treasurer. He continues to do preaching and teaching ministry for local religious communities and parishes.

972-438-1626, ex.211

FR. CARMEN MELE

FR. CARMEN MELE

FR. CARMEN MELE

Carmen Mele, OP is a native of Chicago, Carmen was ordained a priest of the Order of Preachers in 1980. Since then, he has served in San Angelo, Fort Worth, Costa Rica, and El Paso for extended periods of time. His ministries have mainly included work in diocesan, parish, and priestly formation settings. Since 2009 he has directed the John Paul II Institute of lay ministry formation for the Diocese of Fort Worth.

FR. SCOTT O’BRIEN

FR. SCOTT O’BRIEN

FR. SCOTT O’BRIEN

Scott O'Brien, OP entered the Dominican Order of the Southern Province in August of 1985 at the age of 26. The most significant contributing factor in his decision to become a Dominican were the four pillars (prayer, common life, study and preaching). After finishing his initial graduate studies in Berkeley, CA and in Washington, DC, he began his ordained ministry at St. Thomas More Catholic Community at Tulane University in New Orleans in 1992. After serving there for five years as chaplain, he went on for doctoral studies in Chicago before serving for thirteen years in campus ministry both as chaplain and director at Barry University in Miami, FL. He now lives in Irving, TX at St. Albert the Great Priory where he serves as the novice master for our province.

Ft. Scott has temporarily moved to New Orleans, to assist his provincial for the coming year. He will return to St.Albert's to resume his position of the Novice Master in August of 2018.

FR. BRIAN PIERCE

FR. BRIAN PIERCE

FR. BRIAN PIERCE

Brian J. Pierce, OP grew up in Texas, but has spent twenty-one years of his Dominican life outside of the United States – mostly in Latin America (Honduras, Guatemala and Peru). Brian has recently returned to the US after 6 years of a Rome-based ministry, accompanying the contemplative Dominican nuns of worldwide. Brian is again involved in itinerant preaching worldwide. He frequently gives preaching workshops, mostly in Latin America, and has written a few books: Martin de Porres: A Saint of the Americas (New City Press, 2004), We Walk the Path Together: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh and Meister Eckhart (Orbis Books, 2005), and Praxis y Predicación. His latest book was just published entitled Jesus the Prodigal Son (Orbis Books).

FR. JUDE SICILIANO

FR. JUDE SICILIANO

FR. JUDE SICILIANO

Jude Siciliano, OP is prior of St. Albert’s Priory. He has been a preacher since his ordination in 1969. For fourteen years he taught Homiletics at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA and is past president of the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics. He was a volunteer chaplain at San Quentin Prison and was actively involved with "People of Faith Against the Death Penalty," in North Carolina. He preaches parish retreats and also travels throughout the country giving preaching workshops.